Review: Time Xpro 10 pedals: light and durable | Bike Self Locking Pedals

Dan Herrigstad rides his e-bike across the Interstate 5 Bridge as part of his morning commute from his east Vancouver home to the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center near the Oregon Health and Science University campus. Photos by Nathan Howard/The Columbian var objLink = new myC_Remote.BuyLink(); objLink.LinkContent = "<span" class="btn btn-warning btn-xs pull-right btn-buyphoto">Buy this photo"; objLink.IsAboveImage = false; objLink.LinkTarget = "_blank"; objLink.Render();

So it’s important not to get your left and right pedals mixed up. With many clipless pedal systems, such as those from Shimano and Look, it’s pretty obvious which way round they go as the pedal has a definite front and rear.

This system combines an SPD system with a flat pedal – which makes them a great option for people who feel nervous about cycling clipped in, or commuters who want to be able to quickly get a foot on the pedal without having to search for the contact. The shape also means you can use them wit standard trainers, too.

At the centre of the pedal is Time’s ‘ATAC’ (Auto Tension Adjustment Concept) system, which uses a pair of sprung parallel bars to clamp the cleat in place. Unlike on its other MTB pedals, the tension can be adjusted.

And so it continues. Some of our younger contingent espy a minor double, which wouldn’t be a problem but for the sharp corner leading into it; a startling display of high-speed direction changing and jump-smashing then ensues, as do a couple of more wince-inducing displays of full-scale jump-casing. I decide to take a lead out of Douglas Adam’s book – if discretion is the better part of valour, and cowardice is the better part of discretion, then I valiantly decline to embarrass myself with a display of my abilities. It simply wouldn’t be sporting.

The Shimano PD-A600 pedals offer excellent support and stability when paired with the right shoes, but it’s not hard to see how things can be less-than-optimal otherwise. The quality of the interface will also degrade over time as the shoe lugs – and the pedal body itself – wear.

These criticisms are not without merit — the SPD sandal has a kind of naff normcore-dad-on-holiday aesthetic that I think is thus far unmatched in the cycling world. An admirable feat in a sport where silly clothing is pretty much a prerequisite.  

Because they hold your feet in the right place on the pedals and keep them there, clipless pedals are more efficient than regular shoes and flat pedals. Shoes for clipless pedals have stiff soles, which also improves efficiency and comfort.

By the way, I’d suggest adding the Deore XT PD-T780 or PD-T8000 pedals – they’re top dog as far as trekking SPD+FLAT pedals are concerned. My pair of T780s has been excellent since day one.

On both pedals however, I’ve also managed to fatally bend the most forward and central pin that hangs underneath the pedal while you’re riding. In each case, I’ve managed to not only bend the pin, but actually ovalise the bore in the pedal body as well, rendering that particular thread useless for fitting a replacement pin.

I love speedplay – would never even contemplate another pedal/cleat system. They’re are great for commuting as they are so easy to clip in/out of and with keep on kovers they will last for ages.

There isn’t a triple option for EPS. In fact I don’t think there’s a triple option for any e-shifting system.